For those that don't already know, we have board game night every Wednesday at Castle House Games. It starts at 6pm and goes until the store closes, which is officially at 9pm, but they're usually willing to stay open later if we're in the middle of a game.

I try to have a featured game, and we try to get in at least two plays of that game before we switch to another one. For shorter games that means we might only play it one night and then have a different game the next week, but for longer games we usually play it two weeks in a row. Most of the time the featured game will be one that is in print, and hopefully one that's on the shelf.

If you aren't interested in the featured game, you can still come. So far there's always been at least one other game being played, and you can either bring your own, select one from the store's collection of open games, or play one that someone else brought. The only thing I ask is that if you bring a game you be willing to teach it to anyone who wants to play.

So far we've featured Race for the Galaxy, Dominion and Battlestar Galactica.

This week the game is going to be Age of Conan.

I've been going through it and it looks interesting. It seems to be a lot more eurogameish than I first thought, with multiple ways to score points. Conquest appears to be a necessary component of any winning plan, but the presence of other goals looks like a winning strategy will probably require conquest with a purpose rather than just a Risk style 'conquer the world' strategy.

This one is only four players, so I'll be bringing a selection of games that we've played in the past in case more than that show up.

Also, I've never actually played this one, so we may start with a test round to get the feel of it, then reset and do a full game. It says 90+ minutes on the box, and BGG simply says 90 minutes, so we should be able to get in a full game without any problems.

If you want to check the rules, you can download them as a PDF on the Fantasy Flight Games website: http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_minisite_sec.asp?eidm=70&esem=4

Board game time again! We didn't get to play Conan last week since we had a low turnout and one of the players had to leave early. Instead we played a couple games of Race for the Galaxy.

Conan is back up tonight, but if you don't want to play that show up anyway. I'm sure we can find something for you to play!

Tonight is the second night for Age of Conan, but we'll have other games available too.

Well, we ended up not playing Age of Conan, but we had a good turnout. Chris and Kevin got an early start with Carrier Battles, an old hex and counter wargame. Two of the players of Age of Conan from last week didn't make it, so we decided not to play another game of that, and instead broke out Small World. I got in two games and a third started up as I had to go.

Meanwhile, Chris and Kevin finished their game and got three other people to play a game of Munchkin Quest which was still going on when I left.

I would be up for Age of Conan again in the future, but because of the time involved in teaching it I'd only be interested in playing with those who have at least read the rules beforehand. The game itself is only a couple of hours long once you know the rules, but it takes as long to teach as it does to actually play. Our first game lasted to midnight, and I can't usually stay that late.

I'm looking at Agricola for next week's game. It's the highest ranked game on BGG right now, having unseated long time champion Puerto Rico. I've yet to play it, but should be able to set it up and mess around with it some between now and next week.

I want to emphasize that if you're not interested in the "featured game" that you should still show up. There's always an opportunity to get something else going.

How are Friday nights for board gaming? Every once in a while we like to board game.

Is there a full roleplaying house on Fridays? Its seems like there was last time I was in there.

Majority of the space is taken by Friday Night Magic, but you could find some space on one of the warhammer tables. I'm sure Chris would accomodate you.

Either that or there is a 4' x 8' table in the back RPG room that could be used for board games. That table has seen its share of bloody games....

I probably won't be able to make it, but like has already been mentioned, you should be able to find a place to play despite Magic. The only problem with the miniatures tables is the current lack of anything comfortable to sit on, but if the RPG table is free that shouldn't be an issue.

We did play Agricola, and everyone who played seemed to enjoy it. We'll most likely be playing it again this week. Next week will probably be Verminlord's Marvel Heroes, assuming he'll be able to make it, otherwise I'll pick another game.

How did you like Agricola? I picked it up a few months back and the wife and I have played it a few times and we have enjoyed it. I haven't broke it out with the guys yet, always have had something else that we have been playing instead.

I'll be getting a store copy of Ad Astra probably this Thursday so we can add that game to the available mix starting next week's BGN.